Hi friends!
I want to introduce you all to my sweet sweet team of girls that I will be doing life with for the next 9 months! They are honestly the best humans in the world. God sure blessed me by putting me on their team!
So first, I will explain our team name. “Talitha cumi” comes from Mark 5:39-42 when Jesus heals Jairus’ daughter. It says:
“And when he had entered, he said to them, “Why are you making a commotion and weeping? The child is not dead but sleeping.” And they laughed at him. But he put them all outside and took the child’s father and mother and those who were with him and went in where the child was. Taking her by the hand he said to her, “Talitha cumi,” which means, “Little girl, I say to you, arise.” And immediately the girl got up and began walking (for she was twelve years of age), and they were immediately overcome with amazement.”
As my team and I were talking about possible names and what we wanted our theme to be this year, I offered up this passage because it has always been one that is close to my heart. I think it’s so cool that scripture tells us the exact Aramaic words that Jesus said to her when He commanded her to rise. Sometimes we think we are dead and God can’t use us anymore but He says why are you making such a big deal out of nothing??? Why are you crying?? Little girl, ARISE!! So we as a team decided that we wanted to be a team of women rising from spiritual death and complacency into the new life that Jesus has for us the same way this little girl rose from her physical death! We are so so excited to chase Jesus together this year and rise from the ashes into the beautiful, adventure-filled life that the Lord has planned for us through His power!
Soooo here is team Talitha Cumi!
1. Bethany Clark
Bethany is one of the sweetest people I have ever met! She just graduated from high school in Amarillo, Texas and truly exemplifies southern hospitality. She always makes people feel seen and heard and when she asks how you’re doing, you know that she truly cares about you and wants to hear your answer. She makes the funniest faces when she explains that she is “not a camper” while we’re all setting our tents up, but she never complains and is a total trooper when God calls her out of her comfort zone. I am so excited to see what the Lord does in and through her this year!
2. Hailey Cole
Y’all! This is my friend Hailey. She lives in Gainesville, GA and spent the last year in college at Brenau University studying music education. I’m going to say this about every one of my teammates probably because they are awesome, but Hailey is one of the SWEETEST humans. Truly the best. She has a heart of gold. She also sings opera????? Like what the heck??? And boy is she GOOD. She’s also an introvert/internal processor like me so we pretty much clicked from the beginning! She doesn’t say much at first, but Jesus is doing some crazy cool stuff in her life!! She got saved AND baptized at training camp and she also got healed through one of our speakers soooo this girl is way cool and I can’t wait to see what else the Lord is going to do in/through her!
3. Elli Gerber
Man, my friend Elli is a gem. She just graduated from high school in Huntington, Indiana. She is a true leader. She is one of the best listeners and advice-givers I’ve ever known. She is patient and kind and so so loving. At training camp I watched her listen to and love people the same way that I picture Jesus doing. She also keeps a cool head in wild situations (like an international market) which will totally come in handy when I want to have a panic attack. She is so wise and seeks to know Jesus more every day and I am so excited to do life with her! She also ran to catch Maleah EVERY TIME she did a trust fall (which was every 5 minutes) and I totally admire her big heart and faithfulness!!!
4. Bri Smith
Bri. I have no idea what to even say about her. She just graduated from high school and she’s from Colorado. She is SO funny and always keeps our team laughing with her random jokes and her nemo fan. She’s hilarious but she also knows when to be serious and is one of the most genuine-hearted and kind people you will ever meet! She also heard God speak to her for the first time at training camp!!! From the beginning of TC, she prayed to hear Him speak straight to her heart and night after night she was so patient and just knew that He would be faithful to her and He totally was and it was the sweetest thing to witness!! Bri is also our team treasurer and will be in charge of handling all of our funds, so keep her in your prayers! She is awesome and a total asset to our team and I can’t wait to do life with her!
5. Kailey Nicholson
Man oh man am I blessed to know Kailey!! She’s from Georgia and she just graduated from high school, but you totally wouldn’t know it by her wisdom. She is so so close to Jesus and knows Him in such an intimate way, I pray that my walk with the Lord can be as intimate as hers is someday! She is so patient and kind that she doesn’t say a whole lot at first, but when she does you better be listening because I guarantee that it will be gold. She is so strong and so confident in her faith. Also, just look at her smile. She lights up a room with the total joy radiating from her!! I can’t wait to spend 9 months learning from her!
6. Maleah Spears
Ugh, Maleah. How on Earth do I describe her? For starters, she also likes to go by Britney. Because ya know, Britney Spears (insert eye roll). She just graduated from high school and she’s from Nashville, TN, but you wouldn’t know she was from Tennessee by the way she makes fun of my accent more than anyone else. She is wild and crazy and fun and so fearless. The room is instantly brighter when she steps into it. She makes everyone around her laugh so hard they cry (this has happened to me on multiple occasions). She smiles and laughs so easily, every time I picture her I picture her laughing just like in this adorable photo of her! She is also an INCREDIBLE artist. Like, amazing. She is so spunky and fun but not in a way that makes you feel left out but in a way that invites you in to be spunky and fun with her. And I love her dearly. My life is brighter and better because she is in it. Jesus is going to use her wild, fearless, fun personality to change people’s lives and I can’t wait to see it!!!!
Y’all, I LOVE my team so much. The Lord is going to use these women in so many awesome ways and I am SO blessed to be given the privilege of doing life and chasing after Jesus and His kids with them. Please pray for us in this coming season! We launch on the World Race, this crazy crazy adventure that God has called us each to, in just 45 days. We are so pumped to RISE to the occasion with a “yes” in our spirit to bring the Kingdom to Guatemala, Thailand, Malaysia, and Swaziland!!!
